Suspended sentence for drunken skipper

A skipper of the Lady Elizabeth ferry in Falmouth has been convicted of being drunk in charge of the vessel

The skipper of a passenger ferry has been given a three-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, after being convicted for being drunk in charge of the vessel.

David Pill was arrested in Falmouth on 17 August 2010 shortly after mooring the 50ft ferry Lady Elizabeth near the Prince of Wales Pier.

Police boarded the boat and breathalysed Mr Pill after being called by a member of the public. He was found to be almost four times over the legal alcohol limit but he claimed that he had only started drinking after securing the boat and shutting off its engine.

Passing sentence at Truro Crown Court, the judge said that Mr Pill’s ability to deal with any emergency would have been severely impaired and it was fortunate that no such situation had arisen. His master’s licence has been revoked.